Following the introduction of the e-TNGA platform, the versatile and modular architecture for the upcoming crop of Toyota electric mid-size SUV, the luxury vehicle division LEXUS has now revealed the ‘Direct4’, a next-generation electric car drive system designed for its next-generation battery-electric and hybrid electric vehicles. The brand has also teased a new concept electric vehicle from the brand that is scheduled to be fully revealed in 2021.
The single teaser image provides us with a glimpse of what lies in the near future. The concept electric-vehicle is speculated to be an SUV, judging by the high bonnet line and the imposing front fascia and the upright stance. The hallmark Lexus grille appears to have been revised and blanked-out as there is no requirement to provide front cooling for an engine and radiator. The emblem features LED illumination and the headlamp units feature 3-dimensional inserts with typical Lexus light signatures. The absence of an internal combustion engine not only provides Lexus engineers with the opportunity to design the front fascia more aggressively.
The concept study is still unnamed and is expected to benefit from the ‘Direct4’, a next-generation electric car drive system that enables precise control over the drive torque from the front and rear electric motors as well as braking force to all four wheels. This enables the driver to have precise control over the vehicle by automatically adjusting the balance of front and rear-wheel drive.
The front and rear e-axle employs high-torque electric motor & transaxle that sends power without delay through a single driveshaft optimised for drive force distribution. This allows the driver the feeling of a complete connection with the drive system and provides a balance between excitement and predictability in corners as well as high-speeds in straight lines. At the same time, the system has been designed and engineered for quietness.
In other news, Toyota has announced that a new mid-size electric SUV will be built on the e-TNGA platform that was revealed earlier. The new mid-size SUV will be revealed in 2021 and produced at the ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) factory in Japan.